Arrhythmia

An arrhythmia is an irregular or abnormal heartbeat. While most arrhythmias are harmless, they can be an indicator of an underlying condition, such as heart disease or a lack of blood flow to the heart. Over 2 million Americans have an arrhythmia, and they are most common in older patients who are at a higher risk for heart disease.

Types of Arrhythmia

There are several different kinds of arrhythmia, which are classified by how the heart is beating. Atrial fibrillation is the most common and one of the most serious types of arrhythmia. It is classified by a very fast heartbeat that occurs when the electrical signal of the heart begins in a different part of the atrium than usual. Atrial fibrillation can eventually lead to stroke or heart failure as a result of blood clots that block the blood flow to the brain or heart.

Other types of arrhythmia include:

Bradycardia - a slow heart rhythm

Tachycardia - a fast heart rhythm

Supraventricular - based in the atria

Ventricular - based in the ventricles

Bradyarrhythmia - caused by disease

Causes of Arrhythmia

The causes of an arrhythmia can vary depending on how the heart rate is affected. Some arrhythmias may be caused by underlying health conditions, such as:

High blood pressure

Coronary artery disease

Heart failure

Hyperthyroidism

Obesity

Diabetes

Obstructive sleep apnea

Electrolyte imbalance

Alcohol consumption

Stimulant use

Congenital heart disease

Acute arrhythmias can be triggered by certain factors such as stress, smoking, alcohol, drug use, caffeine or nicotine.

Symptoms of Arrhythmia

Patients with an arrhythmia may experience the following symptoms:

Dizziness

Fainting

Fluttering in the chest, or palpitations

Shortness of breath

Chest pain

Symptoms vary depending on the type of arrhythmia. Some patients experience no symptoms at all. An arrhythmia may be hard to diagnose. Your doctor may assess your symptoms as well as your personal and family history, perform an EKG or chest X-ray to detect any abnormalities within the heart.

Treatment of Arrhythmia

Once an arrhythmia has been diagnosed, your doctor will develop a treatment plan that may include medication, medical procedures or surgery, depending on the severity and underlying cause of the arrhythmia.

Medication such as beta blockers, calcium channel blockers and digoxin can slow a fast heart rate, while other medications can help correct an abnormal heart rate.

Medical procedures such as an implantation of a pacemaker or a cardioverter-defibrillator that transmits small electrical signals to regulate the heart rate. This treatment is most often used when medication has failed.

Surgery is used, on occasion, to treat arrhythmia, often for cases caused by heart disease. Coronary artery bypass surgery may be performed to improve blood supply to the heart, while valve repair surgery may correct an arrhythmia as well.